Archived: Great Commission Foundation: mini-charity review

Mini-charity review of Great Commission Foundation (GCF), an organisation that is connected, by the cross directorship of Robert Rawson, to Christian Management Australia, the body accrediting ‘Christian organisations against a set of standards of good governance, financial oversight, and fundraising ethics.’

Is it responsive to feedback?

• When sent a draft of this review, on 29 May 2017, they…did not respond.

Is it registered?

• Yes, as a charity.
  • At its inception, GCF was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power to Change.
• GCF is a public company, a company limited by guarantee.
  • It is entitled to omit ‘Ltd/Limited’ at the end of its name.
• GCF has not said on the ACNC Register where it operates, but its office is in Victoria. It doesn’t have a fundraising licence, but this may be because it still hasn’t traded, or intends to raise less than $10K p.a^[1].

What does GCF do?

• Its Annual Information Statement (AIS) 2016 says that it didn’t operate from its inception on 28 April 2016 to 31 December 2016 (its year-end).
• Its constitution says that

The company’s object is to pursue the promotion of Christianity and Christian mission throughout the world in partnership with Power to Change…[link mine].

• Under ‘Will the charity change or introduce any activities in the 2017 period? in its AIS 2016, GCF reports ‘Changes planned bequests’ (sic).

Do they share the Gospel^[2]?

• Given its object (see above), an ACNC ‘Entity subtype of ‘Advancing Religion’, and its inability to receive tax deductible gifts, I expect so.

What impact are they having?

• NA – no report of any activity yet.

What do they spend outside the costs directly incurred in delivering the above impact, that is, on administration?

• NA – no activity reported yet.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• No

Is their online giving secure?

• NA

What choices do you have in how your donation is used?

• NA

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• Yes (four and a half months after their year-end).

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• Yes

What financial situation was shown in that Report?

• NA

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• NA

If a charity, is their page on the ACNC Register complete?

• ‘Website’ is blank, but they don’t appear to have a website.

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• Under ‘Responsible Persons’ on the ACNC Register:
  • Peter Brook
  • Rex Campbell
  • Allan Gibson
  • David Harvey
  • Robert Rawson
• These same five people are also the directors of Power to Change.

To whom is GCF accountable?

• To the ACNC as a charity, and to ASIC as a company.

1. The other six states with a licensing regime were not checked. ↑
2. “Good living and social concern are important [to the cause of evangelism], but they are not uniquely Christian graces…I’ve met a lot of fine Hindus, Muslims and atheists. Just living the life is not going to bring someone to Christ. There is much more to it than that. We must help people, certainly, but we must also share with them why we are motivated to do so. We must stand against injustice, poverty and need, but we must at the same time point to the One who brings justice and who can meet the deepest need. Until they know our reasons, how can they come to know our Lord?” [Dan Armstrong, the Fifth Gospel: The Gospel According to You, Anzea Books, pp. 13-14. ↑